North Idaho College President Priscilla Bell told lawmakers that state funding for higher education is shrinking at a time when enrollment on her campus has swelled with an influx of unemployed workers going back to school.

On the west end of the Boise State University campus, professor Michael Humphrey lives on the third floor of a residence hall with his wife, 2-year-old daughter, their Labrador Retriever Booba — and nearly 30 college students.